BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 571|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 571
Author: Alarcon (D)
Amended: 5/6/99
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 13-0, 4/28/99
AYES: Alpert, McPherson, Chesbro, Dunn, Hayden, Haynes,
Hughes, Knight, Monteith, O'Connell, Ortiz, Sher,
Vasconcellos
NOT VOTING: Alarcon
SUBJECT : Families for Literacy Program
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill expands the purpose of the Families for
Literacy Program to include the provision of training for
parents who have no or minimal readings skills, as
specified.
ANALYSIS : In 1988 the Legislature created the Families
for Literacy Program, a statewide family literacy
initiative in public libraries. This program provides
state and local assistance funds each year so that public
libraries already providing adult literacy services
(usually through the California Library Literacy Services)
can extend these services to include the families of those
adult learners who have a preschool aged child. Although
having a preschool child is a prerequisite to being
eligible for this program, these programs include the
CONTINUED
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entire family.
This bill expands the purpose of the Families for Literacy
Program to include, as a principal component, providing
training or assistance to parents who have no or minimal
reading skills so that they can help their children learn
to read. This component shall also include specifically
designed services for parents for whom English is not their
primary language.
The bill requires the program, in designing or updating its
program content, to take into consideration the literacy
requirements for children in kindergarten and grades 1 to
12, inclusive, and to provide a program that will
facilitate and prepare children for a successful transition
into formal education.
Comments :
Participation . In the current year, 59 library
jurisdictions are providing family literacy in nearly 200
communities throughout California. Grant awards vary from
$4,000 to $30,000, based on the size and scope of the
individual program with the average award being about
$22,000. Of the 57 programs that were funded in 1997-98,
63% of all the children served were Hispanic, 14% were
African American, 12% were White, 9% Asian, 1% Pacific
Islander and 1% American Indian. In 1997-98, over 5,400
children received over 36,000 free books as part of their
participation in this program.
Current Year . In the current year, the Families for
Literacy Program is funded with $876,000 from the General
Fund.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
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SUPPORT : (Verified 5/6/99)
Los Angeles County Office of Education
California Child Development Administrator's Association
NC:jk 5/6/99 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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